THE University of Worcester are preparing to take on the cream of British student rugby but are still without their own pitch.
The first XV will face the likes of Loughborough, Northumbria and Birmingham in the British Universities Sports Association Premiership, despite working with much thinner resources.
Nomadic Worcester are again grateful to Malvern and Droitwich for lending them use of their grounds as a home venue.
All three men's rugby teams won promotion last year with the firsts winning their way into the premiership of student rugby for the second time in three years.
It is a fantastic success story for the club who muster around 65 players in total, while Loughborough can attract 300 to trials.
Worcester's director of rugby Andy Cushing said: "These guys make a huge commitment to their sport.
"I'm confident they will upset some excellent sides this year as they apply themselves to their game, playing to their strengths and playing for each other. It's an exciting prospect and the players are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead."
The University of Worcester warmed up with a game against Cardiff Blues and their Saturday side, the Warratahs, played a first merit table match with Evesham.
The squad heads off to Cork Constitution for a training camp and return to play their first Premiership match against Durham on Saturday, October 22.
In the lead-up to the opener, the Firsts tackle Dudley Kingswinford, Henley Hawks and Bristol University in friendlies.
The Seconds open their BUSA campaign against the University of Staffordshire Firsts on Wednesday, October 19.
Club chairman and first XV fly-half Robert Cook declared the whole team are excited at the prospect of taking on the giants of student rugby.
Cook said: "We know what we are up against and we're ready to show the levels of commitment that you have to show if you are to take on teams with much better resources.
"It's disappointing that we shall travel away to these teams' impressive grounds with excellent facilities, stands and floodlights.
"And we will have to welcome them to the grounds of local club sides that have generously stepped into the breach to ensure we have somewhere to play our games.
"But that's the way it is, we have to live with that and, in a funny way, it makes us even more determined to succeed.
"We're very grateful to Malvern and Droitwich for lending us their grounds, but as a team we do feel perhaps we deserve to have a home of our own.
"We hope that now we're a fully fledged university, the holders of the purse strings will allow us to develop as we can and we should -- to the benefit of the university and everyone associated with it."
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